Men also affected by gender inequalities

MATHEMATICIANS advise that an equation should be treated as a balance whereby the left side always equals the right.

Joanna McMinn’s article on what she terms gender equality (Irish Examiner, March 7) suggest her views on this particular equation are out of balance.

She believes “gender equality” can be achieved by addressing certain inequalities affecting women, while ignoring those faced by men. Her argument revolves around selective use of statistics, but she fails to mention that in Ireland:

1) The ratio of male to female suicide was 9:2 last year, with 40% being men under 35.

2) The majority of children in special needs classes are boys.

3) Most children with “behavioural disorders” are boys.

4) Men get a raw deal in the family law and divorce courts and it is virtually impossible for a man to get joint custody of his children after marital breakdown.

5) The majority of industrial accidents and fatalities involve men because they do most of the high-risk jobs.

6) Men and women commit domestic violence at similar rates, yet groups helping male victims receive a pittance compared to those catering for women.

7) Men die younger than women, yet Government spending on female health care exceeds that for men.

8) Male primary school teachers are becoming extinct, yet there are no calls for quotas to reverse this imbalance.

Does Ms McMinn have any ideas on how to alleviate these inequalities?

Patrick McGinnity

Derrynoose

Keady

Co Armagh